Defense Stands Strong as Spiders Overpower Camels to Win Fourth Straight

The University of Richmond football team picked up its fourth consecutive win versus Campbell University 44-13 Oct. 28 in the final Colonial Athletic Association conference matchup for the Spiders. 

It was a particularly meaningful homecoming win. Though a slow start by the Spiders allowed an early Campbell lead, members from the 2008 team, which led UR to its first FCS National Championship, were honored at halftime and were among the 5,611 spectators who watched the Spiders' dominant showing.

After winning the coin toss, the Spiders elected to receive, though went 3-and-out after just over a minute of gameplay. Campbell appeared ready to match with a punt of its own after a sack by redshirt sophomore linebacker Donovan Hoilette on 3rd-and-9, but the first of back-to-back 15-yard penalties extended the drive, which culminated in the Camels’ quarterback finding the Camels’ tight end in the end zone for the score.

The teams then traded punts as the first quarter closed with the Spiders driving. At nine plays covering over four-and-a-half minutes, the drive carried into the second quarter as the longest for UR to that point. It was sustained by a 9-yard rush on 4th-and-8 by redshirt sophomore linebacker Owen Laughlin and 2 throws of over 30 yards by redshirt sophomore quarterback Kyle Wickersham, the second connecting with junior wide receiver Jerry Garcia Jr. to tie the game at seven apiece. 

Campbell found nothing over its next 2 drives, as the Spider defense permitted only 49 yards on 15 combined plays, forcing 2 punts. For their part, the Camels’ defense stood similarly strong, allowing only 29 yards on 8 plays after the Spiders touchdown, though conceding a 32-yard pass from first-year quarterback Camden Coleman to redshirt first-year wide receiver Quanye Veney on the next drive. This set up redshirt junior kicker Andrew Lopez for a 30-yard field goal, putting the Spiders up by 3 at the half.

After a field goal from the Camels, UR was quick to jump back out in front, with a drive that gashed Campbell’s rush defense. Redshirt junior running back Fonnae Webb had 3 carries for 14 yards and 2 first downs, bookended by carries by redshirt senior running back Savon Smith. In his 2 carries, Smith went for 2 first downs as well, plus 38 yards and a touchdown, bringing the score to a 16-10 UR advantage after the extra point was pulled wide. 

With Campbell’s next drive, momentum appeared to swing in its favor just in time for a comeback. The Camels put together the longest drive either side had managed all day, at 15 plays and 6 minutes, coming away with 3 points from a 38-yard field goal.

With the next Spider drive resulting in a quick 3-and-out lasting less than 90 seconds, it seemed yet more likely that a Campbell comeback was in the cards as the third quarter closed with the Camels driving.

Any hopes of Campbell retaking the lead were thwarted just 11 seconds into the fourth quarter. Facing a 2nd-and-23 after a sack for a loss of 13 yards, a ball over the middle was picked by redshirt junior linebacker Wayne Galloway and run back 42 yards to put UR up 23-10.

The Camels’ next drive went no better; after a 9-yard rush by their quarterback and a pass for the first down, it was redshirt senior linebacker Tristan Wheeler who both sacked the Camels’ quarterback for 6 yards and recovered the subsequent fumble, spelling the Camels’ second straight turnover and setting the Spiders up at the Campbell 48-yard line.

With the offense back on the field, it was again Webb and Smith that moved the sticks for the Spiders. Webb rushed for 18 yards and a first down on 2 carries, while Smith recorded 15 yards on 3, plus a 12-yard reception which would set up his second touchdown of the contest, giving the Spiders a 17 point advantage, 30-13.

Campbell breached a season high on its next possession with its second interception of the day and third consecutive turnover. After gaining 13 yards on 3 plays, the Camels looked deep in an effort to cut into the Spiders’ lead, unloading a 39-yard deep ball picked by sophomore defensive back Trae Tomlinson, who ran it back 43 yards to the Campbell 37.

It took the Spiders just 3 plays to again find the endzone after Tomlinson’s interception. Graduate running back Milan Howard went 5 yards on 2 carries, before running in a 15-yard pass from Wickersham, bringing UR to 21 total points off turnovers, and making the score 13-37.

UR would punch in one more touchdown before the end of the game, a 3-yard run from Webb set up by a 23-yard pass to first-year wide receiver Landon Ellis and a quick turnover on downs by the Camels. 

“The game didn’t start out like we wanted it to,” UR Head Coach Russ Huesman said in a postgame press conference. “We took a couple shots early and then finally got on the board … to go into the locker room with the lead gave us a lot of confidence.”

UR improved to 6-3 overall, with a 5-1 mark in CAA play. Currently, the Spiders sit only behind the University of Delaware, which boasts a 5-0 conference record. The Spiders will have the opportunity to contend for the top spot in the CAA with their next game versus Elon University at 2 p.m. Nov 11. 

Contact sports writer Scott Valentine at scott.valentine@richmond.edu.